We have now arrived at a beautiful place, where we recite the most beautiful name – the basmala (beginning one’s prayer by saying bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem – in the name of Allah, the most Merciful the Most Compassionate). Reciting this majestic Name should invoke within us a sense of peace and safety in all places and at all times – does the heart find rest except with His remembrance? His Name is the most incredible thing to be in the heart of a Muslim, as His Name is not mentioned on anything small except that it increases it and not on anything great except that it blesses it. His Name is magnificent, as it removed the harms of all places and in all times. The Prophet ﷺ said:

Whoever dismounts to rest in a place should say: “I seek refuge with the complete words of Allah from the evil of what He created,” and nothing will harm him until he remounts.” (Muwatta)

If you say this, Allah (subhana wa ta`ala – glory be unto Him) will protect you wherever you are, insha’Allah (God willing). As for removing the harm at all times, the Prophet ﷺ said that whoever says:

“In the name of Allah with whose name there can be no harm in the earth or in the heavens and He is the Hearer the Knower” whoever says it three times in the morning and three times in the evening, nothing will harm him.” (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Ahmad)

Ibn Al-Qayyim asks that if this is the greatness of the name, then what of the named? A person who truly loves someone, loves to mention the name of the beloved. In the famous story of Qays and Layla, the former was called “Majnoon Layla,” because he went mad out of his love for her. Qays’s father decided to take him to Hajj so that he could be cured of his love-sickness. As they performed the rituals, it seemed that Qays was becoming better. But during one of the last days, when they were in Mina, a man who had lost one of his female relatives started calling out “Layla! Layla!”. Every time that man called out for his lost one, Qays’s heart would bleed just from listening to that name, and his love-sickness returned with more intensity. Would that we would all have that kind of love for the Creator!

In this verse of the Qur’an, Allah (swt) says:

“O you who have believed, when you encounter a company [from the enemy forces], stand firm and remember Allah much that you may be successful.” (Qur’an, 8:45)

In his commentary, Ibn Taymiyyah stated that the believers love to remember Allah (swt), their beloved, even in this state. Antara, a pre-Islamic warrior and poet, wrote a poem on how he remembered Abla, the woman he loved, as the arrows hit him. Just like those people remember their loved ones in battle, Allah (swt) has told us to remember Him in battle.

Ibn Al-Qayyim stated that the delight of the one who loves is being in isolation with his or her beloved. He stated that Ibn Taymiyya would leave the city to the desert and enjoy that isolation with Allah (swt). Just like those past poets would feel peace when remembering their beloved, we should feel an even greater sense of tranquility when remembering Allah (swt). Do we have anyone but Allah (swt)? Who else answers the du’a (supplication) but Him? Who else is more merciful towards us?

Thus, when you see “Bismillah Ar-Rahmah Ar-Raheem,” it is signifies the beginning of the conversation you are about to have with Allah (swt). When you start reciting the beginning chapter of the Quran, surat Al-Fatiha, Allah (swt) responds to you. Ibn Jareer said that he was amazed at people who recited the Qur’an without understanding; how could they taste its sweetness? Al-Fatiha is the only surah that we know of where Allah (swt) responds to us. What secrets does it hold?

Al-Fatiha

The first verse that we recite after the basmala is:

“In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful” (Qur’an, 1:1)

Al-Hamd is both praising and thanking Allah, and Hamd is based on both love (mahabbah) and honor (ta’dheem). It is a very deep phrase, and insha’Allah will be looked into with detail in the coming articles. This phrase is so great that the Prophet ﷺ said:

الحمدلله تملأ الميزان

“Alhamdulillah fills the scales.” (Muslim)

We have to say alhamdulillah for all the blessings we have, knowing that the fact that we are saying alhamdulillah is also a blessing – because there are many others who ignore the gifts of Allah (swt).

رب العالمين

This verse means the “Lord of the worlds.” The Lord is the One who has authority, the Sustainer and the Owner of everyone and everything. “The worlds” refers to all of creation, including humans, jinn, angels, animals and others, each of which may be referred to as a ‘world.’ One says ‘the world of angels,’ ‘the animal world,’ ‘the human world’ or the ‘world of the jinn.’ This extends to everything big and small; even the bacteria and the cells are their own worlds. Most of the time we do not even realize the greatness of Allah’s creation making us ignorant of Allah’s Power over all His creation.

To demonstrate the intricacy of one world, take the inside of a white blood cell for example. One drop of blood can contain anywhere from 7,000 to 25,000 white blood cells at a time.

About the author

Jinan Yousef

Jinan is a graduate of law from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and UC Berkeley, with a special emphasis on international law. During her university years, she was heavily involved with the Students’ Union Islamic Society. Her main interests within the field of Islamic Studies are the Names of Allah, the life and character of the Prophet ﷺ, tazkiya and Muslim personalities. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D.

Alhamdulillah, all caught up! I know you said you can’t take full credit Sr. Jinan, but as Sr. Maryam says above, Jazak’Allahu Khairan for your efforts, for the time you have put in to convey the beautiful messages to us that Ibn Al-Qayyim has talked about.
I am very much looking forward to the coming articles – even though we say Surah Al-Fatihah minimally 17 times a day during Salah, there is so much meaning in the 7 ayat that may escape us. A very big THANK YOU and May Allah (swt) Reward you for sharing this knowledge and insight with us. Ameen.

[…] and Allah is lifted. He remains looking at you, facing you, and responding to you when you recite al-Fatiha as long as you are not distracted. When you say Allahu Akbar, you are throwing away the worries of […]

[…] Al-Hamd is both praising and thanking Allah, and Hamd is based on both love (mahabbah) and honor (ta’dheem). This phrase is so great that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Alhamdulillah fills the scales.” (Muslim) We have to say alhamdulillah for all the blessings we have, knowing that the fact that we are saying alhamdulillah is also a blessing – because there are many others who ignore the gifts of Allah (swt). [see more here] […]

Salamu ‘alaikum WR WB Sis.Jinan,
Subhan Allah I have been hooked to this series, all I have done is made sure I had cooked for my family, cleaned my bed and that is it, I have been reading these one after the other the past 2 days and mesmerised by the beauty of Salah. I feel horrible to say the least about the state of my previous prayers. May Allah help me, Ameen.
For awhile I thought this series was presented by Imam Suhaib and transcribed by Sis.Jinan, masha Allah Sis.you did an amazing, amazing job and have helped many of us improve our Salah, Alhamdulillah. May Allah make this Sadaqatul Jaariyah for you and give you Jannah in both the worlds, Ameen.
Jazakillahu khairan katheeran my dear Sister
Was Salam
Ghazala

[…] V | Part VI | Part VII | Part VIII | Part IX | Part X | Part XI | Part XII | Part XIII | Part XIV | Part XV | Part XVI | Part XVII | Part XVIII | Part XIX | Part XX | Part XXI | Part XXII | Part XXIII | Part […]

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